Adjustable reclining chair



p 19 1939, A. LORENZ 5+ AL 2,113,283

ADJUSTABLE RECLINING CHAIR Original Filed Nov. 22, 1935 2 ts-Sheet 1INVENTORS 4-ro/v LORENZ MID HA/vs lUcnHAImT BY 5 2 E 'fhcil' ATTORNEY.

Sept. 19, 1939. ALOR ENZ ETAL 2,173,283

ADJUS ABLE RECLINING CHAIR Original Filed Nov. 22, 1935 2 Sheets- Sheet2 their ATTORNEY.

Patented Sept. 19,? 1939- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ADJUSTABLERncnmmecnam ,Anton Lorenz, Berlin-Schoneberg, and Hans Luckhardt,Berlin-Dahlem, Germany Continuation of application Serial No. 51,119,

November 22, 1935. This application April 1,

' 1939, Serial No. 265,380.

ber 22, 1934 In Germany Novem- 13 Claims. (01. 155+1os) polygonalstructure to control the movement of the members of the polygonalstructure.

One object of our invention is to provide an adjustable'reclining chairof the above described type, in which the space below the seat, is freefrom any mechanism. I

Another object of our invention is to provide an adjustable recliningchair of the above described type being of such a construction, that,when the back-rest is swung from an upright to a partially reclinedposition, the leg rest will be swung almost in line with the seat andfurther reclining of the back-rest will raise the front of the seat withrespect to the rear'thereoi without appreciably changing therelativeposition of the leg-rest with respect to the seat. I

In orderto carry out our invention into practice, we provide anadjustable reclining chair comprising a support, a back-rest, a seat, alegrest, said seat extending between said back-rest and said leg-restand being pivoted thereto, connecting' link-means, one connectinglink-means being arranged on each side of the chair, each of saidconnecting link-means including a short link and a long link hingedlyconnected with each other, the free end of said long link being pivotedto an intermediate point of the back-rest above the pivot point betweenthe back-rest and the seat, said short link being connected to saidlegrest, said back-rest, said seat, said leg-rest and said connectinglink-means forming a polygonal structure having unequal sides, one pointof said polygonal structure being pivoted to said support, andcooperating sliding means arranged onthe support and one member of. saidpolygonal structure. In a preferred embodiment of our invention the longlinks of said connecting link-means located above the seat, iorm thearm-rests oi the chair. In orderto obtain the specific constructionmentioned in the preceding paragraph, according to another-embodiment01' our invention, the short link of the connecting link-means ispivoted to an intermediate point of the leg-rest and a guiding link isarranged between the seat and the long link of the connectinglink-means, one end 01' said guiding link being hinged to said seat, theother end 01' said guiding link being in slidable engagement with saidlong link.

The above mentioned objects and advantages as well as other objects andadvantages will be more fully disclosed in the iollowingspeciflcati onreference being bad tothe accompanying drawings forming part of thisspecification in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an adjustablereclining chair, in which a sliding cam is arranged on the seat and theshort link of the connecting link-means is pivoted to an intermediatepoint of. the leg-rest,

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the adjustable reclining chain-themovable parts 01 the reclining chair being in sitting position,

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view oi! the reclining chair similar tothat shown in Fig. 2, themovable parts of the chair, however, being inan intermediate position, r v

j Fig. 4 is a side elevational view oi the reclining chair similar tothat shown in Fig. 2, the movable parts of the chair, however. being inthe extreme reclining position, and a part of one side frame beingbroken away,

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 3, 4 v

Fig. 6 is a side and view of another embodiment of areclining chair, inwhich the sliding means is arranged on the long link oi. the connectinglinkmeans and the short link of the connecting link- .means forms anintegral part of the leg rest.

Fig. ,7 is a fractional side end: view, partly in section, of the frontend of the chair shown in Fig. 6, the coveringmember, however, beingdisengaged irom the long link forming the arm-rest,

Fig. 8 is aside end view of the reclining chair similar totha't shown inFig. 6, in which, however, the movable parts oi the chair are inreclining position, I

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary perspective view of the arm-rest and lockingmeans of the reclining ch shown in Figs.-6-8, partly in section,

Fig. 10 is a side end view of a further embodiment oi. an adjustablereclining chair, in which the sliding cam is arranged on'the long linkof the connecting link-means and the short link oi the connectinglink-means is hinged to an extension of the leg-rest,

Fig. 11 is a side end view of the reclining chair similar to that shownin Fig. 10, in which, how'- ever, the movable parts oi the chair areinan intermediate -position,

' similar to that shown in Fig. 18, in which, however, the movable partsof the chair are in the extreme reclining position,

Fig. 13 is a side end view of still another embodiment of an adjustablereclining chair; said reclining chair being similar to that shown inFigs. 10-12 with the exception that only the seat is pivoted to theframe and means are provided for locking the movable parts of the chairin any adjusted position,

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary section taken on line i4-I4 of Fig. 13; and

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary side view of a different construction of thebearing member arranged on the supporting frame toengage with .the camof the arm rest of the reclining chairs shown in Figs. 10-13.

Referring now to Figs. 1-4, 28 generally indicates the supportcomprising the two side frames 22 and 24 connected with each other bythe transverse rod 26. One side frame is arrangedon each side'of thechair.

28 indicates a back-rest, 38 indicates a seat, and 32 indicates aleg-rest. The seat extends between the back-rest and the leg-rest. Thefront end of the seat 38 is pivoted to the upper end of the leg-rest 32at 34, the rear end of the seat is pivoted to the lower end of theback-rest 28 at 38. Connecting link-means, comprising a short link 38and a long link 48 hingedly connected with each other at 42, arearranged on either side of the chair. The short link 38 is pivotallyconnected to an intermediate point of the leg-rest 32 at 44. The longlink 48 is pivotally connected to an intermediate point of the back-rest28 at 48. The back-rest 28, the seat 38, the leg-rest 32 and theconnecting linkmeans 38, 48 form a polygonal structure having fiveunequal sides.

One point of the polygonal structure 28, 38, 32, 38, 48 is pivoted tothe support 28. In the embodiment shown in Figs. 1-4, this point is anintermediate point 48 of the long link 48.

In order to obtain the various positions of the members of the polygonalstructure swingably mounted at 48, the movement of the members of saidpolygonal structure must be controlled. For this purpose we arrange asliding cam 58 on the seat 38. Said sliding cam has an upwardly inclinedface 52 at its underside adapted to cooperate with the bearingtransverse rod 28 of the support. Furthermore, we arrange a guiding link54 between the seat 38 and the long link 48. The lower end of saidguiding link 54 is hinged to the seat 38 and 56, the upper end of saidguiding link is in slidable engagement with the long link 48. As bestshown in Fig. 5, a pin 58 secured to said upper end of the guiding link54 may slide in a slot 68 of the long link 48. A looking or clampingscrew 82 is screwed on the threaded end of said pin 58 for pressing awasher 64 against the long link 48 and locking the relative positionbetween the guiding link 54 and the long link 48, if desired. Fig. 2shows the movable parts of the chair in sitting position, in which theseat 38 rests on the transverse rod 26. 11 indicates the angle betweenthe back-rest 28 and a horizontal line, p is the angle between theback-rest 28 and the seat 38, and 'y is the angle between the seat 38and the leg-rest 32. Whenthe user of the chair wishes to change theposition of the movable parts of the recliningchair, he may shift theweight of his body on the seat to the rear of the pivot 48, so that thelong link 48 is rotated about the pivot 48 and the seat 38 slides for ashort distance on the transverse rod 26 from the sitting position shownin Fig. 2 into the intermediate position shown in full lines in Fig. 3.The angle a between the horizontal line and the back-rest 28 in theintermediate position is somewhat smaller than the angle a of thesitting position, while the angle 6 between the seat and the back-restin the intermediate position is sub- 'stantially the same as theangle 3of the sitting position. During the above described rotation of the longlink 48 about the pivot 48 from the sitting position into theintermediate position the short link 38 hinged to the long link 48 andto the leg-rest 32 swings the latter about the pivot 34 almost in linewith the seat 38 and at the same time the pin 58 secured to the upperend of the guiding link 54 slides in the slot 68 of the long link fromthe position shown in Fig. 2 into the position shown in Fig. 3. Theangle 7' between the leg-rest 32 and the seat 38 in the intermediateposition is considerably larger than the angle v of the sittingposition. Now, during further pressure of the body of the user againstthe back-rest 28, the entire polygonal structure 28, 38, 32, 38, 48 willbe swung about the pivot 48 and the inclined face 52 of the cam 58 willslide on the bearing member 26, so that the movable parts of the chairare brought into the reclining position shown in Fig. 4. The angle a"between the horizontal line and the back-rest in the reclining positionissmaller than the angles a and on of the positions shown in-Figs. 2 and3 respectively, the angle ,3" is larger than the angles 5 and ,8respectively, and the angle is substantially equal to the angle 7 of theintermediate position shown in Fig. 3. The change of the anglesmentionedabove shows that in the intermediate position (Fig. 3), which isobtained during the very first part of the movement of the members ofthe polygonal structure,

the leg-rest 32 has almost reached its final position relatively to theseat 38, while the back-rest is still in an upright or only partiallyreclined position, and that in the final or reclining position (Fig. 4)the back-rest is' inclined with respect to the horizontal plane and therear of the seat is lowered with respect to the front of the seat, whilethe relationship between the legrest and the seat remains substantiallythe same as in the intermediate position (Fig. 3). the user of the chairmay take a partially sitting and partially relaxed position (the back ofthe v body upright, the legs 'in an almost horizontal Thus,

be obtained, if, starting from the intermediate position'shown in fulllines in said Fig. 3, the user of the chair swings the guiding link 54by hand about the pivot 56 into the position 54', whereby the front endof the long link 48 is lifted and the leg-rest 32 is brought into theelevated position v 32' by means of the short link 38.

As mentioned above, the adjusted positions of the polygonal structuremay be locked by means of the clamping screw 82, which may be tightenedagainst the washer 64.

In the embodiment of the reclining chair shown in Figs. 6-9 thecontrolling sliding member is arranged on the long link 48 of theconnecting linkmeans instead of on the seat 38. For this unequal sidesand comprises the back-rest 28,'the

seat 88, the extension 388 01' the leg-rest representing the short linkof the connecting linkmeans, and the long link 48-of the connectinglink-means. One point of the polygonal structure is pivoted to thesupport 28, this point being the pivot point 88 between the seat 88 andthe back-rest 28. When the back-rest 28 ismoved to the right from thesitting position shown in Fig. 6, the movable parts of the chair arebrought structure is swung about the pivot 88. Duringthe lowering of theback-rest 28 into a reclined position, the trontof the seat will beraised with respect to the back of the seat, and the leg-rest will belifted at a higher rate of speed than the back-rest is lowered owing tothe short side 388 of the polygonal structure in the front part ofthechair. The leg-rest, however, will not be swung almost in line withthe seat, when the backrest is swung only to a partially reclinedposition, as is true of the embodiment of the chair shown in Figs. 1-4,because the short link 888 is not hinged to an intermediate point of thelegrest but formsan integral part of the leg-rest.

In order to lock the movable parts of the chair in adjusted positions,the chair is provided with the following mechanism: As best shown inFig. 9, a pin 88 is mounted onthe bearing portion 88 of the support 28.Said pin 88 is in slidable engagement with a longitudinal slot 18 of thelong link 48. A member 12 provided with a groove 14 adapted to cover thelong link 48 is hinged to the latter at the pivot point 48. The member"has a plurality of indentations I8, and the pin 88 may be engaged witheither one of them for locking the relative position between the longlink 48 and the support 28, i. e. for locking the polygonal structure inthe adjusted position. Ifit is desired tochange the position of thepolygonal structure, the covering member 12 is liftedisee Fig. 7) by arotation about the pivot 48 (see Fig. 6) whereupon the long link 48 maybe shifted along the bearing portion 88 of the support for an adjustmentof the polygonal structure in a differ-- entposition. Then, the coveringmember I2 is lowered and the pin 88 is engaged with a difierentindentation 18, so that the polygonal structure is locked in theadjusted position. i i

The reclining chair shown in Figs. 10-12 has a separate short link, 88,one end of which being hinged to the long link 48 at 42, the other endof which being pivoted to an upper extension828 of the leg-rest 82 at18. The leg-rest 82 is pivoted to the seat 88 at 84, and said extension.828 extends beyond the pivot point 84. The pivot point 88 betweenthe'seat 88 and the back-rest 28 is pivoted to the support 28. The longlink 48 is provided with a cam 88 engaging with the bear- 28, 88, 828,88, 48 may be rotated about thepivot' 88, whereby the cam 88 slides onthe bearing portion 01' the support and first causes the leg-rest 82 tobe swung about the pivot 84. A stop 82 arranged on the extension 828 oftheleg-rest and projecting in a direction inwardly of the latter abutsagainst the seat 88 and limits the angle '7 between the leg-rest and theseat as shown in Fig. 11 illustrating an intermediate position of themovable parts of the chair. During afurther shitting backwards of theback-rest 28, the middle part 84 and end part 88 (see Fig. 15) ,of thecam 88 slide on the'bearing part of the support 28, which may be eithera portion of the support as shown in Figs. 10-12 or a roller 888 forreduction of friction as shown in Fig. 15, and raise the seat 88 fromthe transverse bar 28, as a further rotation of the leg-rest 82 aboutthe pivot 84 is prevented by the stop 82. The dual reclining position ofthe movable parts of the chair is illustrated in Fig. 12. As shown inFig. 15, the operative surface of the cam 88 substantially consists ofthree parts 88, 84, 88 merging into each other, wherein the beginningpart 88 and the end part 88 are considerably inclined with respect tothe middle part 84. The beginning part serves to secure the sittingposition, while the steep end part 88 prevents an overturn of the chairin its reclined position.

The reclining chair shown in Fig. 13 is similar to that shown in Figs.10-12 with the exception, that instead of the pivot point 88 anintermediate point 88 of the seat 88 is pivoted to the support 28, saidpoint 88 being a short distance from the rear end of the seat. Thisconstruction permits the use of the chair in such a manner, that theuser may obtain the various positions of the movable parts of the chairby a simple shifting of the weight of his body. In order to lock thepolygonal structure in intermediate positions, an'adjusting rod 82 isconnected to the end of an extension 84 of the leg-rest 82. As bestshown in Fig. 14, said adjusting rod 82 passes through the bore 88 of astud 88 secured to the support 28 of the chair and may slide in saidbore, when the set screw I88 provided with a knob I82 and threaded insaid stud is disengaged from said adjusting bar. If the parts of thechair are brought into the desired position, the set screw I88 is turnedand brought in contact with said adjusting rod 82 to clamp the latter inits position. Thus, the set screw I88 and. the adjusting rod 82 serve tolock the polygonal structure in diflerent positions. The long link 48carries the cam 88 sliding on the support 28.

a support, a back-rest, a seat, a leg-rest, saidseat'extending betweensaid back-rest and said leg-rest and being pivoted thereto, connectinglink-means, one connecting link-means being arranged on each side of thechair, each of said connecting link-means including a short link and along link hingedly connected with each other, the free end or said longlink being pivoted to an intermediate point of the back-rest above thepivot point between the back-rest and iii the seat, said short linkbeing connected to said leg-rest, said back-rest, said seat, saidleg-rest and said connecting link-means forming a polygonal structurehaving unequal sides, one point of said polygonal structure. beingpivoted to said support, and cooperating sliding means arranged on thesupport and one member of said polygonal structure.

2. An adjustable reclining chair as claimed in claim 1, in which thelong links of said connecting link-means form the arm-rests of thechair.

3. An adjustable reclining chair as claimed in claim 1, said cooperatingsliding means comprising a cam arranged on a member of the polygonalstructure and a bearing member disposed on the support, and theoperative surface of said cam substantially consisting of three partsmerging into each other, wherein the beginning and the end part of thesurface are considerably inclined with respect to the middle partthereof.

4. An adjustable reclining chair as claimed in claim 1, in which saidshort link is rigidly connected. to said leg-rest. f

5. An adjustable reclining chair as claimed in claim 1, in which: saidshort link is an integral part of the leg-rest and forms an extensionthereof extending upwardly beyond the pivot point between the seat andthe leg-rest.

6. An adjustable reclining chair comprising: a support, a back-rest, aseat, a leg-rest, said seat extending between said back-rest and saidlegrest and being pivoted thereto, connecting linkmeans, one connectinglink-means being arranged on each side of the chair, each of saidconnecting link-means including a short link and a long link hingedlyconnected with each other, the free end of said long link being pivotedto an intermediate point of the back-rest above the pivot point betweenthe back-rest and the seat, said short link being connected to saidleg-rest, said back-rest, said seat, said leg-rest and said connectinglink-means forming a poly onal structure having unequal sides, one pointof said polygonal structure being pivoted to said support, andcooperating sliding means arranged on the support and said long link.

7. An adjustable reclining chair comprising: a support, a back-rest, aseat, a leg-rest, said seat extending between said back-rest and saidleg-rest and being pivoted thereto, said leg-rest having an extension atits upper end, connecting link-means, one connecting link-means beingarranged on each side of the chair, each of said connecting link-meansincluding a short link and a long link hingedly connected with eachother, the free end of said long link being pivoted to an intermediatepoint of the back-rest above the pivot; point between theback-rest andthe seat. said short link being hingedly connected to said extension ofsaid leg-rest, said back-rest, said seat, said leg-rest and saidconnecting link-means forming a polygonal structure having unequalsides, one point of said polygonal structure being a support, aback-rest, a seat, a leg-rest, said seat extending between saidback-rest and said legrest and being pivoted thereto, connectinglinkmeans, one connecting link-means-being arranged on each side of thechair, each-of said connecting link-means including a short link and along link" hingedly connected with each other, the free end of said longlink being pivoted to an intermediate point of the back-rest above thepivot point between the back-rest and the seat,

said short link being connected to said leg-rest, 7 v' said back-rest,said seat, said leg-rest and said connecting link-means forming apolygonal structure having unequal sides, one point of said polygonalstructure being pivoted to said support. and cooperating sliding meansarranged on the support and said seat.

11. An adjustable reclining chair comprising: a support, a back-rest, aseat, a leg-rest, said seat extending between said back-rest and saidleg-rest and being pivoted thereto, connecting link means, oneconnecting link-means being arranged on each side of the chair, each ofsaid connecting link-means including a short linkand a long linkhingedly connected with each other, the free end of said long link beingpivoted to an intermediate point of the back-rest above the pivot pointbetween the back-rest and the seat, said short link being pivoted to anintermediate point of said leg-rest, said back-rest, said seat, saidleg-rest, and said connecting link-means forming a polygonal structurehaving unequal sides, a guiding link extending between said seat andsaid long link and being connected thereto, said long link being pivotedto said support, and cooperating sliding means arranged on the supportand the seat."

12. An' adjustable reclining chair as claimed in claim 11, one end ofsaid guiding link being pivotally connected to said seat, and the otherend of said guiding link being in slidable engagement with said longlink.

13. An adjustable reclining chair as claimed in claim 11, one end ofsaid guiding link being pivotally connected to said seat, the other endof said guiding link'being infslidable engagement with said long link,and locking meanslarranged on said guiding link for locking an adjustedposition of the polygonal structure.

ANTON noREuz. HANS LUCKHARDT.

